Separable button



y 19, 1959 J. ZUPKIS 2,886,870

SEPARABLE BUTTQN Filed Jan. 18, 1957 INVENTOR. Jon-n4 L. ZuPus ATTOYZUEHS United States Patent SEPARABLE BUTTON John L. Zupkis, Huntingdon Valley, Pa. Application January 18, 1957, Serial No. 634,945

4 Claims. (Cl. 24-110) This invention relates to buttons of the separable type, and more particularly to a button of the type provided with a male locking member which interlocks with the main body of the button but which can be separated from said main body when so desired.

A main object of the invention is to provide a novel and improved separable button which is simple in construction, which is attractive in appearance and which is adapted to carry any suitable emblem, design, or other desired pattern thereon.

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved separable button which is inexpensive to manufacture, which is durable in construction, which is easy to manipulate, and which involves a minimum number of parts.

Further objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following description and claims, and from the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of an improved separable button constructed in accordance with the present invention.

Figure 2 is an enlarged vertical cross sectional view taken on the line 22 of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a transverse vertical cross sectional view taken on the line 33 of Figure 2.

Figure 4 is a perspective view showing the parts of the separable button of Figures 1, 2 and 3 in separated positions, a portion of one of the parts being shown broken away to reveal details of construction thereof.

Referring to the drawings, the improved separable button of the present invention is designated generally at 11 and comprises a hollow main body 12 having an outwardly convex front wall 13 and a relatively fiat rear wall 14. The front wall 13 is provided at its rim with the inwardly turned peripheral lugs 15 and the rear wall 14 is formed with the flange 16 at its periphery, the periphery of the rear wall 14 being received in and locked to the periphery of the front wall 13 by the lugs 15 in the manner clearly shown in Figure 2.

The circular rear wall 13 is formed with an annular corrugation 17 concentric therewith and projecting inwardly, as shown in Figure 2. Said rear wall is also formed with the rearwardly projecting, axial, rearwardly tapering sleeve portion 18, said sleeve portion being preferably arcuately curved, as shown in Figure 2, and terminating in the rear aperture 19 which is axially located relative to main body 12.

Designated at 20 is a substantially circular plate element which is formed to be received snugly in the seat defined within the annular corrugation 17. Said cornugation 17 is formed with the diametrically opposite slots 21, 21, and the plate member 20 is formed at its periphery with a pair of rearwardly directed, diametrically opposite lugs 22, 22 which are received slidably in the slots 21, 21. Designated at 23 is a helical, forwardly tapering coiled spring whose larger end bears on the plate member 20 and is seated within the seat defined by a peripheral corrugation 24 on the plate member 20, as

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shown in Figure 2. The smaller end of the coiled spring 23 bears centrally on the inner surface of front wall 13, whereby the spring 23 biases the plate element 20 rearwardly into the seat defined by the annular corrugation 17.

Integrally formed with the plate member 20 are a pair of rearwardly converging, opposing, arcuately curved resilient locking jaws 25, 25 which normally engage against the inside surface of the rearwardly tapering sleeve 18. Designated at 26 is a male pin element having the head 27 and the elongated, forwardly tapering shank 28. The pin 26 is receivable through the aperture 19 and through an aperture 29 formed centrally in the plate element 20, as shown in Figure 2. Said shank 28 is formed with the annular groove 30 in which the ends of the jaws 25, 25 are lockingly received, as shown, to hold the headed pin 26 engaged with the main body of the button.

As will be readily apparent, the pin 26 may be engaged by inserting same through the apertures 19 and 29, exerting enough pressure to cause the ends of the jaws 25, 25 to snap into the groove 30. To disengage the pin from the main body of the button, inward force isexerted on the lugs 22, 22, causing the jaws 25, 25 to be moved forwardly, and away from the inside surface of the sleeve 18. This provides clearance allowing the jaws 25, 25 to be flexed outwardly when tension is exerted on the head 27 of the pin 26, whereby the shank 28 may be withdrawn from the sleeve 18 past the flexible jaws 25, 25.

The outer surface of the forward wall 13 may be provided with any desired emblem, design, or pattern, and may be provided with a facing of fabric or other material.

While a specific embodiment of an improved separable button has been disclosed in the foregoing description, it will be understood that various modifications within the spirit of the invention may occur to those skilled in the art. Therefore, it is intended that no limitations be placed on the invention except as defined by the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A separable button comprising a hollow body having a circular rear wall said rear wall being formed with an annular inwardly projecting corrugation substantially smaller in diameter than said rear wall and concentric therewith and defining a circular seat, and a front wall connected to said rear wall, a rearwardly tapering sleeve on said rear wall, a circular plate element in said seat, means on the peripheral portion of said plate element extending slidably through said rear wall and being accessible from the exterior of said body, a spring acting between said front wall and said plate element, biasing said plate element against the seat, a pair of opposed resilient locking jaws on said plate element extending into and engaging the inner surface of said sleeve, and a headed pin member extending into said sleeve, said pin member having a shank formed with an annular groove lockingly receiving the ends of said locking jaws.

2. A separable button comprising a hollow body having a circular rear wall and a front wall connected to said rear wall, said rear wall being formed with an annular inwardly projecting corrugation substantially smaller in diameter than said rear wall and concentric therewith and defining a circular seat, a rearwardly tapering sleeve on said rear wall, a circular plate element in said seat, means on the peripheral portion of said plate element extending slidably through said rear wall and being accessible from the exterior of said body, a spring acting between said front wall and said plate element, biasing said plate element against said seat, a pair of opposed resilient locking jaws on said plate element extending into and engaging the inner surface of said sleeve, and a headed pin member extending into said sesame sleeve, said pin member having a shank extending centrally through said plate element and being formed in said sleeve with an annulargroove lockingly receiving the ends of said locking jaws.

3. A separable button comprising a hollow body having a circular rear wall and a front wall connected to said rear Wall, said rear Wall being formed with an an nular inwardly projecting corrugation substantially smaller in diameter than said rear Wall and concentric therewith and defining a circular seat, a rearwardly tapering sleeve on said rear wall, a plate element in said seat, a plurality of lugs on the peripheral portion of the plate element extending slidably through said rear wall and being accessible from the exterior of said body, a spring acting between said front wall and said plate element, biasing said plate element against said seat, a pair of opposed resilient locking jaws on said plate element extending into and engaging the inner surface of said sleeve, and a headed pin member extending into said sleeve, said pin member having a shank formed with an annular groove lockingly receiving the ends of said locking jaws.

4. A separable button comprising a generally circular hollow body having a rear Wall and a front Wall connected to said circular rear wall, said rear wall being formed with an annular inwardly projecting corrugation substantially smaller in diameter than said rear wall and 4 being concentric therewith and defining a. circular'seat, a. rearwardly tapering sleeve on said rear wall, aplate element in said body, said plate element being formed with a substantially circular concave seat concentric with said body and received in said first-named seat, a coiled spring engaged in said second-named seat and bearing between said second named seat and said front wall, a plurality of rearwardly directed lugs on the periphery of said plate element extending slidably through said corrugation and being accessible from the exterior of said body, a pair of opposed resilient locking jaws on said plate element extending into and engaging the inner surface of said sleeve, and a headed pin member extending into said sleeve, said, pin member having a shank extending centrally through said plate element and being formed in said sleeve with an annular groove lockingly receiving the ends of said locking jaws.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,083,416 Sorensen et a1. Ian. 6, 1914 1,928,591 Holmes Sept. 26, 1933 2,372,922 Winters Apr. 13, 1945 FOREIGN PATENTS 14,215 Great Britain June 21, 1906 80,438 Switzerland Mar. 17, 1919- 

